Key for wind musical instruments



Sept. 17 1929- A...E. KLlNGL ER 1,728,553

KEY FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed D96. 10, 1925 Eli]...

15 I I l I 5 I! 9 7 l3 gin manic:

Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES ALBERT E. KLINGLER, OF ELKHABT, INDIANA KEY FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application filed December 10, 1925.

My invention relates to keys for wind musical instruments of the saxophone class, and especially to the key pad.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a key pad for Saxophones, and the like, which is universally mounted, whereby the pad is caused to engage its seat with uniform contact and the maximum of sealing efficiency.

All key pads for saXophones, and. musical instruments of a like character, which are made of felt and kid leather, or the equivalents, are rigidly mounted in the cup of the oscillatory key arm, and the production of a perfect tone is wholly dependent upon the sealing efficiency of the pad when pressed down upon its seat on the instrument body. If the key arm, or the pad cup or carrier, is slightly bent or warped, which frequently occurs on account of the numerous parts and the frail character of the instrument body, the engagement of the key pad upon its seat is uneven and insufficient to effect a perfect seal, whereby air leakage and imperfect tones result. My invention provides a key pad which automatically compensates for any possible distortion in the instrument body or the keys thereof, whereby the maximum sealing eliiciency of the key pad is produced at all times, and thereby the production of perfect tones.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a view of a saxophone fragment including the valve seat to which my invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the key showing the face of thepad; and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the key with the pad removed.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views on the drawing.

Referring to the details of the drawing the numeral 1 indicates a fragment of a tapered tubular saxophone body provided with the lateral tone opening 2, of which there is a plurality, as is well known in the art, said tone opening being encompassed by the usual annular key pad seat 3 upon which the key pad 4, carried in the cuplike carrier 5, is

Serial No. 74,435

adapted to seat. The cup 5 is rigidly mounted upon the key arm 6 and the latter has a pivotal bearing at 7 in the instrument body, whereby oscillatory movement of the key arm and pad may be manually effected, as is well known.

As illustrated, my improved pad comprises a metal disk 8, a felt pad body 9 and a kid leather cover 10, the latter being preferably adhesively secured about the disk and the pad body to form a unit of the three parts mentioned. The pad 4 may be suitably centrally apertured to admit the passage of the shank 11 of a headed screw 12, said screw shank also traversing the central somewhat enlarged opening 13 in the annular disk 8 for screw thread engagement in the center of the hemi-spherical boss 14 which is rigidly secured centrally of the inner face of the pad cup 5. A leather washer 15 may be interposed between the pad disk 8 and boss 14 to absorb and eliminate noise and vibration of any of the parts. The enlarged opening 13 in disk 8 gives ample play between said disk and the screw shank, and the boss 14 spaces the pad 4 from the top wall of the pad cup 5, whereby tilting or universal movement of the pad may be readily effected, and whereby a uniform engagement of the pad face with the seat 8 may be effected.

The common form of key pad now in use is rigidly mounted upon the key arm and the felt pad and kid leather cover must be deeply creased before the pad gains its maximum sealing efficiency, and to accomplish this creased condition considerable time and effort are frequently required. My improved key pad needs no creasing whatever and effects its maximum sealing eiiiciency when first installed in the instrument and maintains it indefinitely under all ordinary conditions.

I claim 1. In a wind musical instrument of the character described, the combination with the instrument, of a key-arm pivotally supported by the instrument body, a pad carrier mounted upon said arm, a keypad tiltably mounted upon said pad carrier, and non-metallic means to prevent vibration of the parts of the device.

2. In a Wind musical instrument of the character described, the combination with the instrument, of a key-arm pivotally supported by the instrument body, a pad-cup 5 mounted upon said arm, a key-pad arranged Witnin said cup, a boss interposed between said pad and cup, metallic means for securing said pad to said cup to enable rocking movement the pad on said boss, and non-metallic 1o vibration elimination means interposed between said pad and boss.

3. In a Wind musical instrument of the character described, the combination of a tiltable key-arm, a pad carrier rigidly mounted upon said l zeyarm, a pad, and means for flexibly mounting said pad upon said carrier and in spaced relation thereto to enable univ ai movement of the pad on said carrier, said means including a helm-spherical boss and a headed screw engaging said boss.

in a Wind musical instrumentoi the character described, the combination of a tiitable key-arm, a pad carrier rigidly mounted upon said lcey-arin, a pad, means for flexibly mounting said pad upon said carrier and in spaced relation. thereto to enable universal inclement 01" the pad on said carrier, said means including a hemispherical boss arranged can illy of said carrier, and a headed I111 screw en ing said boss, and non-metallic vil' ration elniiiiation means interposed between said pad and boss.

5. In a Wind musical instrument of the character described, the combination of a lid tiltable key-arm, a pad carrier idly mount ed upon said key-arm, a pad provided With a metal back plate, means for flexibly mounting said pad upon said carrier and in spaced relation thereto to enable universal movement 40 of the pad on said carrier, said means including a hemispherical boss and a headed screw engaging said boss and non-metallic vibration elimination means interposed between said pad back plate and the hemispherical v boss.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto aiiixed my signature this 8th day of: December,

ALBERT E KLINGLER. 

